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Gliders: Buying Guidelines

Gliders in disguise: Some are fully upholstered to hide their gliding mechanisms.

Amy F. from Freeport, Maine asks: “What should I look for in a glider?”

Great question! Babies and gliders go together like spaghetti and meatballs because little ones love the soothing motion. A glider is a definite upgrade from old-fashioned rocking chairs, which are still around, though increasingly hard to find. When you’re shopping for a glider, look for one with a generously wide seat and arms that won’t hem you in. Both these features are especially important if you plan to use a nursing pillow. And with a baby on board, you’ll need the room. Practice gliding in the store with a display-model nursing pillow or your baby to make sure you’re both a good fit in the chair. Well-padded arm rests on a glider may be all you need to support and comfortably feed your baby, negating the need for a nursing pillow. Choose a glider that locks in place or that has a base that’s constructed to hide the gliding mechanism if you have a toddler or if you have only a newborn now but plan to have more than one child. You don’t want to be gliding when you’re feeding your newborn if there’s a curious toddler underfoot; little fingers can get caught in the gliding mechanism. You’ll also want to lock it to keep your toddler safe when you’re not around.
Also, look for a glider with dark cushions, which won’t show the dirt. When I was glider shopping, the one I bought only came with cream-colored cushions–and they got dingy fast. And that was just from normal use, without any accidents, spit-ups, or anything.